Author: Editorial Team

Korn guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer gave an update on the band’s long-awaited follow-up to 2022’s Requiem in a new interview with Igor Miranda of Rolling Stone Brasil — and the short version is: it’s taking a while, and it’s intentional.

“It’s taking a fucking long time,” Shaffer said (transcribed by Blabbermouth). “We’ve gone through… I swear to God, we’ve written probably almost 40 songs, and gone through ’em, and rewrote ’em, and got rid of ’em, and tore ’em apart, and rebuilt ’em. And it’s been quite a long process because we’re very critical about what we do now. We’re very particular, because we wanna keep our original sound. You can’t really get away from that — when we start playing, it sounds like Korn, especially with all five of us.”

“And Ra [current Korn bassist Roberto Díaz] has actually been such a great addition to bringing a lot of energy in the rhythm section. And Ray [Luzier, Korn drummer] and him play really well together. And it’s fun to watch those guys work out parts, because they do some stuff that I wouldn’t think of. That’s been a big part of this writing process, is those two working together, because they’ve never worked together on a record,” Shaffer continued. “Obviously, they’ve worked together on the older songs and stuff. But I think that working on the older songs, those two, learning the rhythm parts, has really given some insight to what is on the back catalog, and they’ve brought a similar vibe into the newer stuff that we’ve written, and that is exciting.”

As for the direction: “We don’t wanna release something mediocre,” Shaffer said. “As an artist, you don’t wanna paint the same picture over and over again. You wanna add some flavor, add some color, add something new so it feels fresh, so the listeners still get a classic sound, but with fresh takes on things. So, it still sounds like Korn, for sure. There’s no heavy electronics, or you’re not gonna get anything too far out of left field. It’s still very guitar-driven and bass heavy.”

The extended writing timeline traces back to the pandemic and the touring explosion that followed. After COVID killed the planned The Nothing tour cycle, Korn went into lockdown mode and recorded Requiem — then spent the years since making up for lost road time. “We had quite an extensive touring schedule, especially after COVID,” Shaffer explained. “We were excited to get back out on the road… I think it’s just been a lot of touring and us taking our time to release something that… We didn’t wanna release something mediocre. I think we took a page out of the book of Metallica on that.”

Shaffer also addressed the prolonged absence of original bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu, who stepped away from touring in June 2021. “On the last couple of records, he was kind of checked out, and trying to get him engaged was a little bit difficult,” Munky said. “He would always just kind of leave… He just kind of lost his ambition, I guess. But it’s okay. It happens. Everything goes in cycles. We’re definitely not mad at him or anything. We want him to be happy, and it didn’t really feel like he was happy being a working musician at the time. So it was a mutual sort of… I still use the word ‘hiatus’. I think he needed a break.”

“We work our asses off. Even when we’re not touring, we’re writing music or we’re working on things,” Shaffer added. “I just don’t feel like he had it at the time, or just had a lot of other personal stuff happening too. He wasn’t happy. It was obvious. And at the end of the day, he’s our brother, and we want him to be happy.”

On Fieldy‘s current state: “I’ve heard he’s doing well. I haven’t spoke to him personally in probably a few months. But, yeah, I see his kids. His son is playing bass and he’s doing a band, and I think Fieldy‘s been helping with that. He looks like he’s doing better, honestly, which makes us all feel great.”

In the meantime, Korn surfaced a new track — “Reward The Scars,” released in April as part of the Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred expansion pack soundtrack and debuted live at Sick New World festival in Las Vegas. The song marks their first new music since Requiem‘s release in February 2022, which entered Billboard‘s Hard Rock Albums chart at No. 1. The full new album remains in progress.

The post KORN’s MUNKY SHAFFER on New Record: “It’s Still Very Guitar Driven and Bass Heavy” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Glenn Hughes had a plan for 2026: do absolutely nothing. It got interrupted exactly once.

In a new interview with Metal Kaoz, Hughes discussed his one-off appearance with The Dead Daisies on May 30 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Ill. The show brings together Hughes, guitarist Doug Aldrich, drummer Tommy Clufetos, and guitarist/band founder David Lowy for a 50/50 split set — ten Dead Daisies tracks followed by ten Deep Purple classics. That’s the full itinerary.

“Specifically, when David Lowy asked me to do this show, I don’t know what they have planned, if they have anything planned. I know I’m taking some time off. I’m looking forward to that,” Hughes said (transcribed by Blabbermouth). “But we really haven’t talked about anything other than the Arcada Theater. Really, it’s just a one-show celebration of Deep Purple and Dead Daisies.”

“For me, I was gonna take 2026 off. I’ve been working like a crazy man for 30 years, and I haven’t really had any time to take a break,” Hughes explained. “So this year, for me, was going to be a no-show, no-album year. So all I know is I’m doing one show with my friends, and the rest is up to God.”

On what his next creative chapter might look like — following the 2025 solo album Chosen — Hughes had no interest in staying in a lane: “I’ve been making rock music for 50 years, more than that, and as an ever-changing artist, I have to listen to my soul. I’m not saying I won’t make rock music, but it’s not gonna be straight-down-the-middle classic rock. It’s gonna be a little bit different. I can’t stay in a formula. I’ve been changing every time I make an album. It’s got the rock feel, but there’s groove and there’s R&B, a little jazz. That’s the way I operate. I can’t make ‘Burn Part 2’ or ‘Addiction Part 2.’ I can’t do that.”

“For me, I sing all the time, whether I’m on stage or off stage. I’ve been given a tremendous gift with this voice,” Hughes said. “In my peer group, there’s four or five of my friends, and you know who they are, at my age that are still out there doing this. And we’re all very, very grateful. But while I have this ability to sing and feel the way I do, I think it’s important to feel good about giving it to people. I’ve had a lot of support with my voice all these years. There’s no one more grateful than I am for the people that have really come to see me sing. I’m a live singer. I’m very much a live singer.”

Hughes departed The Dead Daisies in May 2023 after four years with the band, replaced by a returning John Corabi. His career runs from early ‘70s success with Trapeze, through the Mark III Deep Purple lineup alongside David Coverdale — the Burn, Stormbringer, and Come Taste the Band era — to a prolific solo run and collaborations including Black Country Communion (with Joe Bonamassa and Jason Bonham) and a guest turn on Robbie Williams’ 2025 single “Rocket,” which also featured Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.

The post GLENN HUGHES on 2026 Plans: “This Year, For Me, Was Going to Be a No-Show, No-Album Year” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Sir Roger Daltrey, voice of The Who, has announced a 20-city U.S. solo tour dubbed “A Great Night Out.” The run opens August 23 at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona, and closes September 29 at the Chevalier Theatre in Medford, Massachusetts, with a stop at New York City’s The Town Hall on September 27. General on-sale begins May 15 at 10 a.m. local time; presale opens May 13 with password “GREATNIGHT.”

The tour follows The Who‘s acclaimed farewell run and Daltrey‘s widely praised 2024 semi-acoustic solo outing. His nine-piece backing ensemble is the same from those dates: Simon Townshend on guitar, Billy Nicholls on mandolin, Jody Linscott on percussion, Doug Boyle on guitar, John Hogg on bass, Katie Jacoby on violin, Steve Weston on harmonica, Geraint Watkins on keyboards/accordion, and Scott Devours on drums.

Expect a setlist drawing from Daltrey‘s solo catalog, reimagined covers, and Who rarities that rarely get aired. The 2024 run earned glowing notices for its candid banter and acoustic intimacy; Forbes called Daltrey “witty, charming, and engaging. An absolute masterclass.”

“Well, it’s one more for the road,” Daltrey said. “After finishing The Who‘s final tour of the U.S., it’s time for me as a solo artist to possibly do the same. After touring solo with different bands of musicians for the last 17 years, a less grueling life becomes more attractive, I’ll see. With my present lineup of nine musicians, I have this opportunity to see your beautiful country and enjoy the hospitality you have shown me over so many years. I’ll be off the backing tracks and always searching for different soundscapes to present the songs. It’s a lot of fun and gives me the chance to have A Great Night Out.”

Daltrey was knighted last December by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle for his service to music and charity, including over 25 years of curating Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. He’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (1990) and Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient. Planet Rock listeners voted him the fifth-greatest rock voice of all time. His 2018 autobiography Thanks A Lot Mr. Kibblewhite earned strong reviews.

Tour dates:

• 08/23 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center *
• 08/24 – Highland, CA @ Yaamava’ Theater
• 08/26 – Las Vegas, NV @ Encore Theater
• 08/28 – Las Vegas, NV @ Encore Theater
• 08/29 – Las Vegas, NV @ Encore Theater
• 09/01 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Lobero Theatre ^
• 09/02 – Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery
• 09/04 – Santa Rosa, CA @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts ^
• 09/05 – Reno, NV @ Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort
• 09/09 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
• 09/11 – New Buffalo, MI @ Four Winds Casino
• 09/12 – New Lenox, IL @ New Lenox Performing Arts Pavilion
• 09/15 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Riverside Theater
• 09/17 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark
• 09/20 – Springfield, MA @ The Big E (outdoor)
• 09/22 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
• 09/24 – Washington, DC @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
• 09/25 – Bensalem, PA @ Parx Xcite Center
• 09/27 – New York, NY @ The Town Hall
• 09/29 – Medford, MA @ Chevalier Theatre

* already on sale / ^ on sale at a later date

The post THE WHO’s ROGER DALTREY Will Bring His Solo Tour Back To The U.S. This Summer With “A Great Night Out” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Deep Purple have debuted the first single and video for the powerful, fast-paced hard rock tune “Arrogant Boy.” It’s the initial musical statement from Splat! the band’s new studio album, set for a July 3 release on earMUSIC. The official music video for the track is a live performance clip, which premiered last night (May 12) on YouTube.

Deep Purple —Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey, and Simon McBride—are currently featured on the cover of Classic Rock Germany, where the magazine highlights “Arrogant Boy” as “an electrifying song in the style of “Space Truckin” or “Highway Star””, adding that it “doesn’t copy these classics; rather, it cleverly varies them.”

“‘Arrogant Boy” is the story of Billy who couldn’t read or write,” says Deep Purple frontman Gillian. “He is unhappy with things, so he speaks up, and finds a way of irritating, one way or another, the elite. And I can’t think of anything more fun than irritating the elite. It would be a joyous exercise for me every morning after coffee.”

The single arrives one week after Deep Purple announced their new studio album Splat! Once again, the band has teamed up with producer Bob Ezrin, continuing a collaboration that has shaped the band’s recent studio albums, all of which reached #1 on the album charts in multiple countries.

On the touring front, Deep Purple have just completed shows in Asia, and the band is set to continue touring with a run of European summer dates in June before officially launching the Splat! World Tour in North America in August. The upcoming touring schedule includes 86 shows across 28 countries, bringing Deep Purple back to major arenas across Europe in autumn before the year ends with shows in South America in December.

At the heart of Splat! is an idea conceived by Ian Gillan. Rather than treating the end as destruction, the album imagines it as transformation: Splat! explores the end of humanity not in any crude apocalyptic sense but as a metamorphosis beyond physical existence.

Splat! will be available July 3 in multiple formats:

• Limited Box Set, containing:
• 2LP Gatefold (180g)
• 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
• CD Digisleeve
• 3 exclusive 10-inch vinyl records featuring live recordings from the Deep Purple Tour 2024
• Exclusive 7-inch single featuring the bonus track “Guinnesis” (not included on the studio album and available exclusively in the box set!)
• CD (Digisleeve)
• 2LP Gatefold (black, 180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
• Limited Purple 2LP Gatefold (180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
• Limited Transparent Yellow 2LP (180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet

All LP editions include a rich 12-page LP-sized booklet with illustrations and all song lyrics, available exclusively with the first pressing.

Further exclusive items are available via the official artist store, including:

• Limited 2LP Picture Disc + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
• Limited Cassette
• A strictly limited canvas signed by all band members and limited to just 199 copies worldwide
• Additional apparel and merchandise items

The post DEEP PURPLE Releases New Single And Music Video For “Arrogant Boy” From New Album “Splat!” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Gene Simmons is staging a weekend that will be either a dream or a nightmare, depending on your feelings about meet-and-greets. His Legends of Rock Expo takes place September 25–27 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, promising concerts, autograph sessions, photo ops, panels, and parties with genuine rock royalty. Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now here.

The headliners: Simmons (Kiss), Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), Stewart Copeland (The Police), and Dave Davies (The Kinks). Rounding out the roster are fellow Kiss members Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, plus Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus), Vinny Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath), Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz), David Ellefson (formerly of Megadeth), Lita Ford, Bruce Kulick (formerly of Kiss), John Moyer (Disturbed), Nelson (brothers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson), Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), Saving Abel, and Jerry Scheff, longtime bassist for Elvis Presley. More names are coming.

Headlining the concert portion is Simmons with the Gene Simmons Band, which he describes as a loose, back-to-basics affair. “It’s loose, spontaneous, and back to basics,” Gene said. “I’ve brought fans to join us onstage from the audience who think they can play guitar. And somebody could yell out, ‘Why don’t you play “Sunshine Of Your Love,”’ and I’ll turn to the band and say, ‘What key?’ It’s as much fun as I can think of with my pants on.”

“This is an opportunity for everyone to rub elbows with musicians from their favorite rock bands,” said David Heynen, promoter and owner of Fanboy Expo. “The kind of access most of us can only dream of!”

Simmons is a 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2026 member, and a 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipient. Outside of Kiss, he runs the Rock & Brews restaurant chain, the MoneyBag spirits line, and has spent recent years advocating in Washington for fair terrestrial radio royalties for recording artists through the American Music Fairness Act.

The post GEEZER BUTLER, STEWART COPELAND, And DAVE DAVIES Among Headliners at GENE SIMMONS’ Las Vegas Rock Expo This September appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Black Veil Brides have announced a second North American leg of the “Vindicatour,” covering August and September. The 16-city run opens August 27 in Phoenix and closes September 27 in Montclair, N.J. Caskets, Archers, and Holy Wars support through September 8; Autumn Kings take over for the final stretch (Sep. 16–Sep. 27). General on-sale begins May 15 at 10 a.m. local time.

The tour supports Vindicate, the band’s seventh studio album, out May 8 via Spinefarm — which has had a strong first week. Kerrang! declared Black Veil Brides have “never sounded better.” The track “Woe & Pain” landed in the WrestleMania 42 hype package for Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton, and “Sorrow” showed up during a UFC Fight Night broadcast. Not bad for five days of existence.

The album was preceded by a run of singles: “Bleeders,” “Hallelujah,” “Certainty,” “Vindicate,” “Revenger” (featuring Machine Head‘s Robb Flynn), and “Cut” (featuring Lilith Czar). Their previous LP, The Phantom Tomorrow, hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart, and the single “Bleeders” topped the Active Rock radio chart.

The band — vocalist Andy Biersack, guitarists Jake Pitts and Jinxx, bassist Lonny Eagleton, and drummer Christian Coma — also has festival slots at Rocklahoma (Sep. 5) and Louder Than Life (Sep. 20), plus the ongoing first Vindicatour leg running through May.

Vindicatour II Tour Dates:

• 08/27 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren ^
• 08/28 – Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater #
• 08/29 – El Paso, TX @ Speaking Rock Entertainment Center #
• 08/31 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s ^
• 09/03 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave #
• 09/04 – Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory at the District #
• 09/06 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater #
• 09/08 – Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom ^
• 09/16 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues ^
• 09/18 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl ^
• 09/19 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore ^
• 09/22 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues ^
• 09/23 – Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo RiverWorks ^
• 09/25 – Wallingford, CT @ The Dome ^
• 09/26 – Bethlehem, PA @ Wind Creek Event Center #
• 09/27 – Montclair, NJ @ The Wellmont Theater ^

^ Live Nation / # Not a Live Nation date

The post BLACK VEIL BRIDES Keeps the “Vindicatour” Rolling By Adding 16-Dates To Their North American Leg appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Saosin has announced a 28-city U.S. headline tour this fall, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut self-titled album. Originally released in 2006, the record charted at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 and produced fan staples “Voices,” “Bury Your Head,” and the gold-certified “You’re Not Alone” — and as of this announcement, the full album has earned its RIAA gold certification. The trek kicks off October 23 in Anaheim, California, and runs through November 28 in San Diego, with support from Silent Planet, Like Moths to Flames, and Save Us.

The tour follows Saosin‘s formal return: earlier this year, the band signed to Sumerian Records and released “Starting Over Again,” their first new music in over a decade and the first in 14 years featuring vocalist Cove Reber.

Guitarist Beau Burchell reflected on what it means to revisit the record: “During the creation of self-titled, I don’t think we fully understood the album we were making at the time. We were just doing the same thing we have always done, and are still doing now. And that’s making the best music we can. We had no idea the impact it would have on so many people’s lives and the genre. Getting to revisit it 20 years later, with that appreciation and perspective, gives us a new invigorated energy that we are so excited to bring to the stage.”

“There’s a different weight to these songs when you’ve lived with them for two decades,” Burchell continued. “Not only for us, but for all the fans who have shared their stories with us over the years. The connection people have to these songs is unreal, so the opportunity to share and celebrate our self-titled record across the U.S. in a live setting is something very important to us. It’s crazy to think we are at peak performance 20 years into our career, but it really does feel that way, and we are chomping at the bit to bring this show to as many people as we can.”

Vocalist Reber added his own take: “Our self-titled album defined a major chapter of my life, as well as the lives of so many others. I grew up through these songs, the shows, and the touring we did together. Celebrating this record now is not only about honoring the fans who grew up alongside us, but also the new fans who are growing up with us today. We’ve come to understand what that musical era of our lives truly meant, and I’m excited to bring it back to the stage with a renewed sense of energy and excitement.”

The current lineup — Burchell and Phil Sgrosso on guitars, Chris Sorenson on bass, Alex Rodriguez on drums — recently completed runs through New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Upcoming stops include Slam Dunk festival in the U.K. later this month, Vans Warped Tour in Mexico City, and Aftershock in Sacramento in the fall, and the “Emo’s Not Dead” cruise out of Miami in January 2027.

Celebrating 20 Years Of Self-Titled & More U.S. Tour Dates:

• 10/23 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
• 10/24 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
• 10/25 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
• 10/27 – San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Event Center
• 10/28 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
• 10/29 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
• 10/30 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
• 10/31 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
• 11/01 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
• 11/03 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
• 11/04 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
• 11/06 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
• 11/07 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
• 11/08 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
• 11/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl
• 11/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Nevermore Hall
• 11/13 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
• 11/14 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic
• 11/15 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
• 11/17 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II
• 11/18 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore
• 11/20 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
• 11/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
• 11/22 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
• 11/24 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
• 11/25 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
• 11/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
• 11/28 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA

Upcoming festival dates:

• 05/23 – Hatfield, UK @ Slam Dunk Festival
• 05/24 – Leeds, UK @ Slam Dunk Festival
• 09/12-13 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Vans Warped Tour
• 09/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Four Chord Music Festival
• 10/03 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
• 01/22-26 – Miami, FL @ E.N.D. Cruise

Get your tickets here.

The post SAOSIN Self-Titled Debut Earns RIAA Gold as Band Announces 20th Anniversary U.S. Tour appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson made his position on AI-generated music clear in a new interview with Andres Violante of Rock En La Trinchera — and he’s not buying what it’s selling.

“To me, it’s just that — it’s artificial,” Ellefson said (transcribed by Blabbermouth). “And I don’t know how intelligent it really is. It’s just artificial.”

He drew a clear line between digital recording tools and AI generation proper. “Every record I make, if it’s using digital processing, it’s still our humans performing and me,” Ellefson explained. “It’s us playing. And that’s important, that it’s not just stuff taken from somewhere else, that what you’re hearing is real human performances. ‘Cause it’s the human performance that connects with the human listener.”

“That’s my problem with artificial intelligence, it’s not that intelligent, and it’s artificial,” Ellefson continued. “And that’s never gonna connect emotionally. You’ll never have an emotional connection. Humans connect emotionally, ’cause we’re animals. That’s why we connect with our cats and our dogs and our birds and our pets, because we have a beating heart, we have a pulse, there’s an emotional connection. And things that are created on a computer, they don’t have emotion to them. They may be smart, but they don’t have a heart. And it’s the heart that really connects.”

Since his exit from Megadeth in 2021, Ellefson has kept himself in near-constant motion across multiple fronts. He has continued touring and recording with Kings of Thrash, the group he formed alongside former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young that performs early Megadeth material, and released To Hell and Back in June 2023 with death-thrash outfit Dieth.

In April 2024, he stepped in to cover for D.D. Verni during Overkill‘s Latin American tour while Verni recovered from shoulder surgery. He also launched the Ellefson-Soto project (which has two albums already released) and hosts his own podcast, The David Ellefson Show. Most recently, he joined classic heavy metal act Metal Church as their new permanent bassist in November 2025, performing on their fourteenth studio album Dead to Rights, released in April 2026.

The post DAVID ELLEFSON On AI-Generated Music: “My Problem With Artificial Intelligence, It’s Not That Intelligent, And It’s Artificial” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Nicko McBrain is putting his story on paper. Harper Nonfiction will publish Hello Boys And Girls!, the Iron Maiden drummer’s autobiography, on October 22, 2026, in hardback, ebook, and audio formats.

McBrain joined Iron Maiden in December 1982, replacing Clive Burr ahead of the Piece of Mind album and tour — a connection that had already been established when his former band Trust supported Maiden on the “Killers” U.K. leg in 1981. Where Burr had a punk-inflected, hard-hitting style, McBrain brought dexterity and flair, giving primary songwriter Steve Harris the rhythmic latitude to take the band into more adventurous territory. He wound up the third-longest-serving member behind Harris and guitarist Dave Murray.

Pre-order your copy today at this location.

“I’m very excited and honoured to be working with the wonderful Harper Nonfiction team on my very own book full of lots of fun stories, anecdotes, and of course my incredible experiences with some of the greatest musicians and performers from the ’70s, ’80s and beyond!” McBrain said. “I am blessed to be able to finally share my path to where I am today, in my own words, with the world.”

The 73-year-old British musician announced his retirement on December 7, 2024, with his final Maiden performance that same night at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil. His replacement, Simon Dawson, was a session drummer and longtime collaborator with Harris in British Lion. Health had been the defining factor in the decision: McBrain suffered a stroke in August 2023 that temporarily left him partially paralyzed, and had been diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer in 2018 — a diagnosis he kept largely quiet until 2021.

Speaking about his exit in a July 2025 interview, McBrain was candid about the toll: “I had my health issues, which were one of the primary reasons that I decided to hang it up with the guys. And I wasn’t doing the songs justice because of the handicap that I had. And it wasn’t fair to everybody else in the band either. They supported me 100 percent through the ‘The Future Past Tour’, and that was fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of brothers to support me through my darkest hour.”

He addressed the performance specifics head-on: “I actually got told off at rehearsals [in 2024] because I was playing the songs too fast, ’cause I’d been playing with [my Florida-based side project] Titanium Tart before I went off and did the rehearsals in Australia with Maiden.” The real issue, as he described it, was finesse rather than tempo — the drum fills he had executed for 42 years were no longer landing the way they needed to. The decision followed.

Hello Boys And Girls! promises backstage stories, tour tales, and the kind of unfiltered candor that tends to separate the good rock memoirs from the rest.

The post IRON MAIDEN’s NICKO MCBRAIN Announces Autobiography “Hello Boys And Girls!” Arriving This October appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

A new version of Rainbow‘s “The Temple Of The King” — featuring Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain, drummer Simon Wright (ex-AC/DC, Dio), bassist Phil Soussan (ex-Ozzy Osbourne), guitarist Kevin James Morse, and Rainbow‘s own vocalist Ronnie Romero — is out now ahead of the June 19 release of Ride The Rainbow – The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow via Cleopatra Records.

The tribute record is stacked six-deep with Rainbow alumni: Bob Daisley, Graham Bonnet, Don Airey, Joe Lynn Turner, Doogie White, and Romero all appear, joined by Candice Night (wife of Ritchie Blackmore and his Blackmore’s Night bandmate) and Morse, who succeeded Blackmore in Deep Purple. Rounding out the lineup are guest contributors from across rock and metal’s upper echelon, including Sebastian Bach, Marty Friedman, Derek Sherinian, Rick Wakeman, Vivian Campbell, Eric Gales, and more.

On recording “The Temple Of The King,” Romero said: “Being part of the Rainbow legacy, and having the opportunity to play this song with Ritchie himself on stage, to record this song it means the world to me. I would never be grateful enough for the chance of being part of this legendary band, so here is a humble way to pay tribute to one of my favorite songs and my all-time favorite band. Hope the people like it the same way I loved it recording it.”

Morse recalled first encountering Rainbow live: “I remember playing an outdoor festival show featuring Rainbow, with my previous band, The Dregs. I stayed and watched Rainbow and thought that every single song sounded really good! Ritchie had always worked with very good musicians, but his vision of heavy, but melodic, rock really impressed me.”

Cain brought some Ronnie James Dio-era warmth to his contribution: “When Cleopatra asked me to play on a Rainbow tribute project, I was excited to add my keyboards to it. Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio were one of the truly melodic and memorable metal bands. I got to party with him towards the end of his touring days after a Sweden Rock Festival. His soaring voice and melodies will be remembered for decades to come.”

Ride The Rainbow tracklist:

• “Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll” — Bob Daisley, Graham Bonnet, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Carmine Appice, Don Airey
• “Man On The Silver Mountain” — Sebastian Bach, Doug Aldrich, Bob Daisley, Carmine Appice, Mick Box, Jonathan Cain
• “Stargazer” — Derek Sherinian, Marty Friedman, Vinny Appice, Jürgen Engler, Joe Bouchard, Ronnie Romero
• “Lady Of The Lake” — Angel
• “Rainbow Eyes” — Mike Tramp
• “Since You Been Gone” — Marty Friedman, Vinny Appice, Graham Bonnet, Jürgen Engler
• “Kill The King” — Rick Wakeman, Bob Daisley, Vinnie Moore, Marc Lopes, Chris Adler
• “The Temple Of The King” — Steve Morse, Phil Soussan, Ronnie Romero, Simon Wright, Jonathan Cain, Kevin James Morse
• “Jealous Lover” — George Lynch, Vinny Appice, Andrew Freeman, David Ellefson, Jonathan Cain
• “I Surrender” — Eric Gales, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Phil Soussan, Don Airey, Chris Adler
• “Catch The Rainbow” — Doogie White, Derek Sherinian, Chris Poland, Vinny Appice, Bob Daisley
• “Street Of Dreams” — Paul Shortino, Joel Hoekstra, Joe Bouchard, Fred Aching, Jonathan Cain
• “Stone Cold” — Vivian Campbell, Joe Lynn Turner
• “I Surrender” — Marcus Nand, Candice Night

The post RAINBOW Tribute Album “Ride The Rainbow” Is Arriving This June — Six Band Alumni Among Performers Including GRAHAM BONNET, BOB DAISLEY, STEVE MORSE, RONNIE ROMERO & More appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.